CD Reviews

This My Friends Is HIP HOP

The_Lawyer | Central New Jersey | 06/07/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Let me re-write a historical quote for the purpose of doing this album justice, the early 90's were "the times that thrilled mens' souls." I first heard this album sometime back in 1993 as a teenager living out in semi-suburbs of Woodbridge NJ. After listening to Soul Clap and Bounce Ta This, I was hooked. This album is a classic, part of that early 90's renaissance where hip hop was simply amazing. Diamond D's beats, those horns, Big L, Finesse, Showbiz, AG and others. Further, this is one of the most undderated albums in hip hop history. The mainstream never picked this one up, maybe a good sign. It is the one rap album that stands alone in every category. That is the suburban perspective, meaning that none of my suburban friends who like hip hop mention it.
If this album was released now and had enough national push from record companies who knows. But an album like Runaway Slave will never be made again, it was raw, dark, blazing hip hop. As a suburbanite, hearing Big L was surreal, as if the inner-city streets came alive and swallowed the suburbs and a ghetto thunderstorm knocked the power out in the suburbs. From beginning to end, flawless. Diversity is a great thing, that is why I have such admiration for the sound and voices of hip hop. The world is not one big happy family, and these emcees are not playing with their words or music, you have to respect that. It's pure.
For you emerging fellow suburbanite hip-hop fans, if you want to show your knowledge of hip-hop, make sure this album is on your mantle in lights. If you don't like this album then I would question your taste in hip hop."

Showing corny MC's what Hip-Hop's supposed to sound like!

Phil Watts, Jr. | Petersburg, VA USA | 11/03/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

""Showbiz, there's skills to make/so lets get busy/and dig in the crates..."1989, Show & AG made their debut on Lord Finesse' FUNKY TECHNICIAN. He wasn't exactly the livest on the mic back then...in fact, he sounded straight bush league. Meanwhile, Show was already showing signs of brilliance behind the boards in that album on "Back to Back Rhymin'". About a year later, Both Showbiz and AG came out with the (sadly out-of-print) Party Groove EP, which featured "Party Groove" (both original & Show's instrumental), "Soul Clap", and the DITC theme song, "Diggin' In The Crates". These songs blew up clubs everywhere! When Kid Capri started the "BEND & STRETCH" chant, you knew the whole entire club was jumpin'!SEPTEMBER, 1992, this full-length was released. After smoothing out the edges during all their DITC colabs, these guys have shown a lot of improvements. Showbiz started manipulating more samples and even started to rhyme. Yes, he wasn't the greatest producer on the mic, yet he was much better then certain producers who tried it (Jay Dee...quit it before you embarrass yourself even further). AG was no longer the high-pitched bush leaguer on Finesse's first album. The both play off each other really well on this album. Songs like "Silence of the Lambs" (the "Be like Bo Jackson after surgery and DON'T DO IT" line still cracks me up), "Bounce Ta This" featuring Dres of Black Sheep, are examples of how great DITC was. Big L stops by on the irratic "Represent" to give beatdowns like Rondey King got (his words, not mine)! Songs like "More Than One Way Out the Ghetto", "Runaway Slaves", and "Hold Ya Head" show the duo talk about issues that effect people on the streets. Thing is, it's still kinda wierd for them to have a Malcolm X vocal snippit and follow it up with "Hard to Kill" where they're "Killin' enemies worse than Kennedy's assassination" (in the same breath, they try to work around it by saying all that killin' stuff is "just a style". Heh.) They also took the liberty of bringing in "Soul Clap" and "Party Groove" from the EP (But sadly, no "Diggin' In The Crates"...) Even though some of this CD may not have stood the test of time with certain listeners, this is still one of the best albums to come out from that time period and one of the best things to come out of the DITC camp."

Masterpiece. Esssential DITC.

? | United Kingdom! | 05/09/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Along with Pharcyde's "Bizarre Ride II", for me, this is the best album to come from one of the best years of Hip Hop (1992). Similarly, this is the best album to come from DITC, which is a bold statement since DITC is one of the most consistent hiphop groups ever, behind Wu Tang, with each and every solo member bringing classic material to the table (Lord Finesse,OC,Diamond D,Big L,). This is Quintessential NY Early 90's hiphop. From the distinctive horns, breaks, samples, snares/drums, flows, ebonics & the natural Funk Show & AG display any fan of early 90's hiphop will worship this, I guarantee it. With 16 Full Tracks, their is not one weak track on the album...Pure CONSISTENCY. It is a landmark, with the track "Represent" featuring Diamond, Finesse, Big L & D-Shawn this is the first group DITC track...on wax. Showbiz really shines on Runaway Slave, with flawless production especially on tracks like "Fat Pockets", "He say, She Say" "Represent" & Catchin Wreck. Compared to "Goodfellas", Runaway Slave is slightly less dark and gives off that funky vibe that was primarily heard in that era. Similarly, You can bet Andre The Giant (AG) comes correct with the flows, lyrics and of course the trademark Voice! An album that cracks my personal top 10, any fan of DITC, Early 90's Hiphop or music that generally displays raw talent...needs to treat their mental with this, and prepare for an eargasm!. PEACE (P.S. as you can probably tell this is extremely rare, so you will find you will have to pay alot for this, but believe me, its worth it).

Lyrics - 10/10Beats - 10/10Orginality - 10/10Replay Value - 10/10

Bottom line----One of Few impeccable classics

If you find this helpful, check my other reviews"

Heavy album

Kd | 06/16/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"No need to say more than 'DITC' and all these heads here know exactly how deep this crew are. This was showbiz & a.g.'s first album and is up on the benchmark level setting high standards for the east coast hip hop game that was in 1992. The album is tight and has classic production start to finish. But most of all, the lyrics are deep and have a lot put into them flowing over the tracks like water down a stream. I would recommend this to anyone who doesn't have it yet, if you are a hip hop head, theres no way you can't have it by yet. Shame on you! lol. Get this before its too late and you miss something that won't be back again. Also the goodfellas album and anything else from the DITC selection too. Peace!"